Metal curtain.



0. T. JOHNSON. METAL CURTAIN.

Arruou'mn nun we. '1, 1912,

Patented Jan. 28, 1913.

@wgi m Q23 said strip 10.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OTTO T. JOHNSON, OF JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO WATSON MANUFACTUH ING COMPANY, OF JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

METAL CURTAIN.

Specification of Letters Iatent.

Patented Jan. 28,

Application filed August 7. 1912. Serial No. 713,717.

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, ()rro T. JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jamestown, in the county of Chautauqua and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Metal Curtains, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

The invention relates to flexible sheet metal curtains for desks, filing cases and similar structures, and the object of the improvement is to provide a flexible sheet metal curtain in which the joints do not open when the curtain is bent, neither do the parts change at said joint but a smooth pivotal point is provided at the oint of divergence which point is held firm y together and in line by the construction of the slats; and the invention consists in the construction and combination of the parts as shown in this specification and the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1, is a perspective view of a portion of my improved sheet metal curtain; and Fig. 2 is an endwise elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is an endwise elevation of a modification showing triangular shaped tubular edges. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of one of the sheet metal strips or slats.

liike mimerals of reference refer to corresponding parts in the several views.

The numeral 10 designates one of the sections, slats or strips which. has a arge lengthwise tube ll turned on one edge with a close joint between the edge 12 of the spring sheet metal and the return bend 13, the edge 12 being pressed against the acute return bond 12) by the spring of the metal in the tube H. The return bend 13 connects the tube ll and the flat portion 1 1 and is formed sharply so as to provide a pivot point in its bearing on the sheet metal of the next slat inserted between the bend 13 and the edgi- 1'1. The opposite lengthwise edge oi the strip 10 is formed in a much smaller and preferably flattened tube 15 with a return bond [(3 adjacent the flat portion 17 (if Said return bond 16 is formed so as to permit the insertion of a sheet of metal between the tube and the under side of the flat portion 1?. sullicicnt space being allowed to pcrniit the small tube 15 moving A modification of the tubes 11 and 15 is shown in Fig. 3, in which the tubular edges of the strips 10 are given a triangular shape, as shown at 19 and 20. It is apparent that the triangular shape would serve a good. purpose without departing from my invention but the cylindrical or round tube is preferred, since it gives a stronger clamp for the edge 12 against the sheet metal inserted therebetween.

In assembling the slats 10 the small tube 15 is inserted Within the large tube 11 inserting the sheet metal at the return bend 16 into the joint between the edge 12 and the sharply diverging return bend 13. The

edge 12 being sprung away from the return bend 13 sufficiently to admit the sheet metal at the bend l6 and hold said sheet metal firmly therebetween and formv a pivot therebetween which does not move out or in, in relation to one another, yet permits the slats 10 to pivotal] y turn freely on said point of divergence. The clamping stress of the edge 12 holds the joint between the two slats tight at all times, thereby making said joint liquid or dust proof and at all times smooth on its exterior surface as to the relation of one slat. to another.

I claim as new- 1. A metallic curtain'composed of a plurality of sections or slats, one of the edges of each slat bent to form an acute return bend and extending in a large lengthwise tube, the other of said slat turned in a less acute return bend and extending in a smaller-tube to be slidably received within said large tube of the adjacent slat to provide a pivot point at the point of divergence between said slats, said large tube having space for the sidewise movement of said smaller tube.

2. A flexible curtain composed of slats or sections having their opposite edges forming large and small lengthwise tubes, said large tube connected to said slat by an acute return bend and the edge oi the sheet metal in said tube pressed against said. return bend, the lesser tube connected to said strip by a less acute return bend to receive the return from side to side within the large tube 11.

r: r oil bend and edge of said larger tube of an ad- In testimony whereof I have afiixed my jacent slat on the opposite sides thereof to signature in the presence of two witnesses. form a smooth pivot point at the point of OTTO T JOHNSON divergence of stud slats, said large tube hav- 5 ing space for sidewise movement of said Witnesses:

smaller tube, substantially as and for the H. A. SANDBERG, purpose specified. ARTHUR O. MORSE. 

